also 4–5 aumble, 5 ambil, ambel. [a. Fr. ambie, f. vb. ambler: see prec.]
1. The pace described in prec. (sense 1) and loosely, an easy pace.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 174. His steede was al dappul gray, It goth an ambel [v.r. ambil, aumble] in the way.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., III. (J.). Have translated begging out of the old hackney-pace, to a fine easy amble.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., An amble is usually the first natural pace of young colts…. There is [now] no such thing as an amble in the manage; the riding-masters allowing of no other paces, beside walk, trot, and gallop.
1840. Dickens, Barn. Rudge (1866), I. xiv. 65. The grey mare … breaking from her sober amble into a gentle trot.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, viii. 111. The usual pace of these animals [mules] is an amble, which consists in lifting both legs on the same side at once.
2. Of persons: A movement in dancing or walking suggesting an amble; an artificial or acquired pace.
1607. Tourneur, Rev. Trag., III. v. 84. Put a Reueller Out of his Antick amble.
1632. Massinger, Maid of Hon., I. ii. To teach him his true amble and his postures When he walks before a lady.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, I. xii. 177. There is many one of them upon the amble in such a night as this.
